Kaamos

“The true North–Strong and Free!”

Why Live in the Polar North?

When you think of people moving to live in their ideal destination, you probably don’t think, “as far North as possible.” However, the North of Canada is experiencing a big surge in migration as cities grow, industries develop, and more people discover all there is to love about living in the far North.

You get a relatively low cost of living. Contrary to popular myth, it’s really not prohibitively expensive to live in the far North of Canada. Food prices aren’t any higher than you’d see in a big city like Vancouver, and in the past few years, most Northern cities have gained some large supermarkets with a very decent selection of produce and other foods. Plus, you have a few other factors on your side: Northerners don’t pay PST, and you’ll also get a special allowance on your taxes every year!

There’s lots more to do and see than you’d think. Don’t worry-living up North doesn’t just mean staring at dramatic landscapes all day! There’s plenty to experience for cultural events, art, and social life. Cities like Yellowknife in the NorthWest Territories are super hip, with plenty of boutiques and gourmet restaurants to satisfy even the most demandingly cultured.

It’s a great place to be social. Northern cities are very up and coming, and you’ll find that many residents are young professionals looking to make friends and have group adventures. There’s lots of opportunities to join clubs and societies, especially if you’re into the outdoors.

You have more time to do the things you love. Unlike most of Canada, it gets dark late up here. You can expect to have sunlight until 1 in the morning! That means longer hours for hiking and other adventures after work.

The North is much easier to get to these days. Recent development has prompted better airports, expanded bridges, and much faster travel time overall.

There’s a whole range of weather, depending on where in the North you move. North doesn’t just mean cold! For instance, the city of Whitehorse is further North than Winnipeg, but its climate means it’s much more temperate, so winters aren’t nearly as bad. Even if you pick a colder location, like Yellowknife, you’ll still have glorious, sunny summers to look forward to each year.

The North is home to some spectacular wildlife. You’ll have ample opportunities for hunting and fishing, in a whole range of environments. Just be sure to brush up on your know-how and safety training if you move North intending to hunt. Many species are protected, and you’ll be expected to have a good working knowledge of proper practices. If you’re a prospective hunter, you can find out more about hunting regulations HERE: Also find out more here about storing weapons safely.

So, here’s the lowdown. While we used to see hundreds of young people moving South to find money and friends, now we’re seeing them move North. For an environmentally-conscious, outdoor-loving, socializing, inspiring generation, there’s no better place to be!

P.S. We're currently developing a strategy-adventure game inspired by the North. A sneak peek of weapons and items in the game are found on the right sidebar. What do you think? ;)

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Kaamos and the Northern Lights: an introduction

Kaamos is a period in the Finnish year which is more commonly known as the “polar night.” It’s a stretch of time at the winter solstice of the year when the land stays completely dark, and no sunlight reaches the polar region. The effect is a constant blue glow over the land. It’s essentially a reverse midnight sun, which is the time of the summer at solstice when the land remains light all night. Depending on the region and its latitude, the polar night can last up to a month, or remain a tame half-light which is referred to as polar twilight.

Another remarkable phenomenon happens when the solar winds interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. The magnetic field is weaker at the poles of the globe, so more interference is apparent at the extreme polar regions. That’s why we see the Northern Lights. The effect is produced by the solar wind exciting all the little particles of the atmosphere, which start reacting and creating the bright waves of light. The Northern Lights are most prominent at the Equinox periods in the year.

Kaamos and the Aurora Borealis are just two of the natural phenomena that make the polar regions a terrific place to live. Stay tuned to learn about much more!